His firm grip finally relaxed and he released her. Her first instinct was to run, but he had chosen the spot well. A clump of trees behind her, to her right the disused tin mine, to her left a narrow path she could barely make out in the darkness, and towering above her, Pengelly, who couldn’t have looked calmer or more alert.

He slowly removed a pistol from the pocket of his overcoat, and held it menacingly by his side. Was he hoping she would make a run for it, so it would take more than a single bullet to kill her? But she remained rooted to the spot.

“You’re a traitor,” said Pengelly, “who has done more damage to our cause than any agent in the past. So you must die a traitor’s death.” He glanced in the direction of the mine shaft. “I’ll be back in Moscow long before they discover your body, if they ever do.”

He raised the gun slowly until it was level with Karin’s eyes. Her last thought before he pulled the trigger was of Giles.

The sound of a single shot echoed through the woods, and a flock of starlings flew high into the air as her body slumped to the ground.

For further details visit JeffreyArcherBooks.com.

About the Author

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

JEFFREY ARCHER was educated at Oxford University. He has served five years in Britain’s House of Commons and twenty-two in the House of Lords. All of his novels and short story collections—including Mightier Than the Sword, Be Careful What You Wish For, Best Kept Secret, The Sins of the Father, and Only Time Will Tell—have been international bestselling books. Archer is married with two sons and lives in London and Cambridge.

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Also by Jeffrey Archer

ALSO BY JEFFREY ARCHER

THE CLIFTON CHRONICLES

Only Time Will Tell

The Sins of the Father

Best Kept Secret

Be Careful What You Wish For

Mightier Than the Sword

NOVELS

Not a Penny More, Not a Penny Less

Shall We Tell the President?

Kane & Abel

The Prodigal Daughter

First Among Equals

A Matter of Honor

As the Crow Flies

Honor Among Thieves

The Fourth Estate

The Eleventh Commandment

Sons of Fortune

False Impression

The Gospel According to Judas

(with the assistance of Professor Francis J. Moloney)

A Prisoner of Birth

Paths of Glory

SHORT STORIES

A Quiver Full of Arrows

A Twist in the Tale

Twelve Red Herrings

The Collected Short Stories

To Cut a Long Story Short

Cat O’ Nine Tails

And Thereby Hangs a Tale

PLAYS

Beyond Reasonable Doubt

Exclusive

The Accused

PRISON DIARIES

Volume One—Belmarsh: Hell

Volume Two—Wayland: Purgatory

Volume Three—North Sea Camp: Heaven

SCREENPLAYS

Mallory: Walking Off the Map

False Impression

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